PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's first Syariah compliant airline Rayani Air received its air service license (ASL) and air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Department today.
Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said with the ASL and AOC, Rayani Air could operate as a full fledged airline.
"They can now carry passengers and cargo. For Rayan Air to get the ASL and AOC, they have to undergo a full auditing exercise.
"We will continue to monitor the airline strictly to ensure safety is always at optimal level," he said, before presenting the ASL and AOC.
Later, Rayani Air also announced the appointment of its new managing director Jaafar Zamhari.
Jaafar said the Langkawi-based airline would commence its home-coming flight from KLIA2 to Langkawi International Airport as well as the inaugural flight from Langkawi to KLIA2 on Sunday (Dec 20).
"We are a full-fledged airline and not a budget or a hybrid airline. The airline has its expansion plan starting with adding more domestic routes and aircraft within the next few years," he said.
He said in the first phase of its masterplan, Rayani Air would fly to Kota Baru, KLIA2, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
The airline, he said, hired those with at least five years' experience in the airline industry.
Rayani Air currently has 355 employees on its payroll with eight pilots and 50 crew.
Jaafar said the airline had other plans in the pipeline, including Umrah and Haj flights.